Tave adolphe canet



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. B. G. A. CANET.

HYDRAULIC BRAKE APPARATUS.

No. 442,014. Patented Deo. 2,1890.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet 2.

J. B. G. A. CANET.

HYDRAULIC BRAKE APPARATUS.

No. 442,014. Patented Deo.`2, 1890.

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheen 3.

J. B. G. A. CANET. HYDRAULIC BRAKE APPARATUS.

No. 442,014. Patented Deo. 2, 1890.

.M I .i

dig'

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE CANET, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO SIR JOSEPH .VHITVORTII t COMPANY, LIMITED, OF

MANCHESTER., ENGLAND.

HYDRAULIC BRAKE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,014, dated December2, 1890.

Application iiled July 19,1888. Serial No. 280,353. (No model.) Patentedin France January 29, 1884, No. 160,004, and in England July 9,1887,No.9,688.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JEAN BAPTISTE GUs- TAVE ADOLPHE CANET, engineer, acitizen of the Republic of France, and a resident ot' Iaris, France,have invented new and useful lm provements in Hydraulic Brake Apparatusfor Ordnance, (for which I have obtained patents in the followingcountries: in Great Britain, No. 9,688, dated July 0, 1887, and in ioFrance, No. 160,004, dated January 20, 188i, and (addition) No. 178,422,dated September 9, 1880,) of which the following is a specilication,reference being had tothe accompanying drawings.

x 5 This invention relates to hydraulic brake apparatus for checking therecoil of guns and regulating' or controlling their return to the ringposition.

The said invention is chiefly designed to zo improve the constructionand increase the efficiency of brake apparatus of the kind or classdescribed in the specification accompanying my application for LettersPatent of the United States iiled February 27, 1880,

z5 Serial No. 301,378. l

To provide for controlling the runningout of the gun according to thepresen-t invention, I combine with the brake-cylinders a device, which Iwill'hereinafter term the\compen 3o sating device. In this device liquiddisplaced from the brake-cylinders in the recoil by the progressiveimmersion of the pistonrods is received and retained until its return tot-he brake-cylinders or its discharge or escape is permitted by openinga valve. The running ont or return of the gun to the tiring positionwill then take place under the action of gravity or otherwise, itsvelocity being regulated by the extent of opening of the said 4o valve.

My said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements hereinafterset forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevationv of part of agun-i'nounting provided with brake apparatus constructed in accordancewith the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan, partly in section, onthelines o: :o and ou oc, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the saidgun-mounting. Fig. i is a longitudinal central section, and Fig. 5 atra-ns- 5o verse section, illustrating a further modification of thesaid invention.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

A is the base-plate or racer, and ll the turn 55 table or undercarriage.

C C are the brakecylinders, which are united by a transom C', and formtherewith the cradle or top carriage of the gun-mount ing. This cradleor top carriage is formed 6 with bearings C2, in which the gun ismounted by means of its trunnions, and the said cradle or carriage isarranged to move longitudinally upon slides D on the under carriage B etthe said gun-mounting. 6 5

E E are the pistons of the hydraulic brakes, the rods E of which arefirmly fixed in brackets or bosses D at the rear ends of the slides D.

F is the cylinder of the compensating de- 7c vice, which is formed on orfirmly attached to the top carriage. This cyli nder is provided with aram or plunger'G, which is firmly secured at Dr2 in a transom at theforward end of the chassis, frame, or under carriage B. Pipes 151 Il areprovided for communication between the brake-cylinders C and theconipensating cylinder F. These pipes connect the cylinders C with avalve-box I, which is connected by a short pipe J with the compen- 8osating cylinder F. The valve-box I contains a valve K, loaded by aso-called Belleville spring L or by other suitable means.

In the apparatus shown in lfigs. l, 2, and fi asmall by-pass orbranchpassage a is formed in the valvebox I, and is provided with aregulating-valve b. The stem ol' this valve has fixed thereon a pinionc, which is geared with a pinion d upon a shaft e, carried in bearingsc', formed with or attached to the chassis or 9o under carriage I3 andextending through bearings c2, formed or xed on the cradle or topcarriage. The pinion d is secured upon the shaft e by means of a keyfitted t-o slide in a long keyway c3 in the said shaft, sothat, 95although the said pinion must rotate with the shaft, it is lree to slidelongitudinally thereon in the to-and-tro movement of the gun upon theslides l). rl.`l1eret`ore whatever may be the position ol' the gun outhe said slides the 5 valve ZJ can be controlled by turning the shaft e,which is provided for this purpose with a lever f. By these means thesaid valve can be adjusted while the gun is moving upon its slides.Other suitable means may, it` deto sired, be provided `for ettectiug theadjust` ment ot' the said valve, whatever may be the position of the gunon its slides. For instance, an arm may be keyed upon the shaft e andconnected by a link with an arm or lei; ver on the valve-stem.

The cylinders C F and the pipes and pas sages connecting the same arefilled with liquid. By and during the recoil the liquid in thebrake-cylinders C in trent of the piszo tons E is forced to the rear ofthelatter, asin other well-known hydraulic recoil-brakes, and a volumeof liquid is displaced from the said cylinders by reason of theprogressive immersion of the pistoirrods E. The liquid thus displaced isforced through the pipes ll ll', and, lil'ting the valve K, passesthrough the pipe .l into the compensating cylinder F. 'lhe transversesectional area ot the ram or plunger Gis equal to that ot the twopistono rods E et the recoil-brakes. Therefore during the recoil thevolume ot' liquid which, as above described, passes from thebrake-cylinders C into the compensating cylinder F' will completely tillthe void produced in the latter byits rearward movement, because thesaid cylinder will have been by such rearward movement displacedrelatively to the ram or plunger G through a distance equal to thatthrough which the brake-cylinders are dis- 4o placed relatively to theirpistons. The brakecylinders and the compensating cylinder are thereforealways full ot' liquid, whatever may be the position of the gun and topcarriage on the slides D. At the termination ol' the recoil the valve Kcloses under the action et its spring L (the strength of which issuitably calculated) and interrupts the communication between thebrake-cylin ders andthe compensating cylinder, whatever may be theposition 5o of the gun and top carriage when they come to rest upon theslides D. rlhe liquid in the compensating cylinder being retainedtherein will then prevent displacement ot' the said cylinder.Consequently the gun and top carriage will be held in their recoiledposition, and cannot run out or return to the tiring position unt-ilcommunication is established between the l' rakecylinders C and the courpensating cylinder l" by opening the valve l). 6o Then this valve isopened, liquid can How from the compensating` cylinder into thebrake-cylinders through the bypass (l, and the gun and top carriage willtherefore return to the tiring position under the action of grav ity.The speed of this return movement can be regulated or controlled at willby the adjustment ot the valve l), so that no shock or jar will beimparted to the gun-mounting at the termination ot the return movement.

My invention is applicable to gun-mountiugs wherein the gun and topcarriage are placed upon an inclined chassis, frame, or under carriageand run out or return to the ring position under the action of gravity,as above described, and also to gun-mountings wherein this running outor return is effected by the reaction ot springs or by theintroductioninto the brake-cylinders ot' liquid under pressure supplied by anaccumulator or pump.

My present improvements are also applicable to gun-mountings wherein thegun recoils upon a pivoted beam or slide which can be raised and loweredto cttect the vertical pointing or elevation of the gun, and toothergun-mountings,\\'lietlier the gun be supported by trunnions orotherwise. Moreover, although I have in Figs. l to 3 shown a gunmountingso constructed that the piston-rods will be in compression during therecoil, l wish it understood that my invention can, in some instances,be adapted to gun-mountings wherein the piston-rods ot the recoil-brakesare in tension during the recoil.

One peculiar feature of my invention consists in securing one part ofthe compensating device-viz., the cylinder or the plunger to the undercarriage-and the other part to the top carriage, so that in the movementof the said top carriage upon the slides the one part will be moved ordisplaced relatively to the other, for the purpose above specified.

In the form or modification of my apparatus hereinbet'ore described thebrake-cylinders and con'ipensating cylinder F are connected with the topcarriage and are movable therewith. My improvements are, however,applicable with equal advantage in cases where the cylinders are lixedand the pistons or plungers movable, and also to various othercombinations for insuring the inverse relative motions ot the cylindersor pistons ot' the brake and the cylinder or plunger ot the compensating device.

ln some instances provision is made for the passage of the liquid fromthe brake cylinder or cylinders into the compensating cylinder orcylinders, and vice versa, through the interior ot' fixed hollow ortubular piston-rods or plungers.

It is obvious that more than one compensating cylinder may be used, .ifnecessary or desirable.

lVhen the above-described in'iprovements are applied to gun-mountingsfor use on aship or vessel, the automatic action ot the springloadedvalve K insures the retention of the gun and top carriage in position atthe termination ot the recoil, notwithstanding the inclination of theapparatus by reason ot the rolling motion et the vessel. To insure thisresult the force of the spring L must be greater than the pressuretransmitted by the liquid to the valve K during such rolling motion,whatever may be the extent ot' the latter.

los

IIO

In the ymodification of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4t and 5 thehydraulic brake apparatus is provided with the devices hereinafterdescribed, whereby the gun will be rctained in its recoiled position,and the velocity of its running out or return to the firing position canbe eifectually regulated or controlled-that is to say, thepiston E isformed with slots E2, through which extend taper bars E3, iixed'in thecylinder C, or the said piston may be otherwise so constructed as topermit and control the iiow of liquid from one side to the other sidethereof. The piston-rod Ef is made hollow or tubular, and in this rod isinclosed another-hollowor tubular rod S, firmly secured in the rear endof the cylinder C. The cylinder C and the annular space or cavity gbetween the rod E and the rod S are in communication through aperturesor passages g in the said rod E. A valve 7L is provided for controllingthe communication between the said annular space g and the chamber,cavity, or passage S in the rod S. This valve is tit-ted to slide yupona reduced part of the rod S; An adjustable valve j is, moreover,provided, which closes the chamber or passage S', and wherebycoinmunication may be established through suitable oriiices at 7cbetween the said chamber or passage S and'the space in the cylinder@ atthe rear ofthe piston E. During the recoil liquid f rom the cylinder C,passing through 'the apertures g into the annular space g between thetwo rods, lifts the valve 7L from its seat and enters the centralchamber or space S within the'rod S. Liquid also passes the piston Einto the space behind the said piston. At t-he termination of the recoilthe valve h closes, so that theliquid is retained in the chamber orspace S under pressure due to the weight of the gun and top carriage orto force applied to effect the return of the gun to the firing positionby springs or otherwise. Therefore the gun and top carriage cannot moveunless or until the controllingvalve j is opened to permit the liquid toes cape from the said chamber S into the space in the cylinder at therear of the piston. 'lhe opening of this valve can be regulated at will,so that the return of the gun to the liring position can be controlledas desired. It will be seen that the rod S and hollow pistonrod Econstitute a controlling device, acting for the same purpose asthe-coml'iensating device hereinbefore described.

The hollow rod E may, if desired, be connected by a pipe 'll with anaccumulator or pump to permit the running in ot' the gun without firingthe same. I

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the saidinvention and in what manner the same is\*o be performed, I wish itunderstood that I ahraware that various forms of apparatus liave`-bcendevised for use in combination with hydraun lic recoil-brakes forordnance for the purpose of regulating or controlling the running out orreturn of the gun to its tiring position after its recoil. I thereforedo not claim, generally or apart from my improvements herein specified,the provision or use of means for accomplishing this result; but

l. In a gun-mounting, the combination, with a hydraulic brake-cylinder,of a co mpensating br equalizing device which is connected with the saidcylinder and is adapted to receive the liquid displaced therefrom in therecoil, and which comprises a cylinder or chamber, a piston or plungerworking therein, a nonreturn valve for retaining the liquid in thecompensating cylinder, and a valve for permitting and controlling thereturn ot' the said liquid to the ln'ake-cylinder, for the purposesabove specified.

In a gun-mounting, the combination, with a hydraulic brake-cylinder fromwhich liquid is displaced during the recoil, of a compensating oreqnalizing` device adapted to receive and retain the liquid displacedfrom the said brake-cylinder, and consisting, essentially, of ahydraulic cylinder and piston or plunger, one of which moves to and froand the other of which is secured to the under carriage or frame of thesaid mounting, and a valve for permitting and controlling the return ofthe liquid from the said compensating or equalif/.ing device to thelnake-cylinder, for the purposes above specilied.

3. In a gu n-mounting, the combination, with a hydraulic brake-cylinderfrom which liquid is displaced during the recoil, of a compensating orequalizing device consisting, essentially, of a hydraulic cylinder and apiston or plunger, one of which moves to and fro and the other of whichis secured to the under carriage or frame of the said mounting', a pipeor passage connecting the brake-cylinder with the cylinder of thecompensating or equalizing device, a non-return valve in the said pipeor passage, and a valve for permitting and controlling the return of theliquid from the said compensating or equalizing device to thebrake-cylinder, substantially as and for the purposes above specified.

4f. Ina gunmonnting, the combination, with a hydraulic brake-cylinderand a compensating or equalizing device consisting` essentially, of apiston or plunger workingl in a cylindex' connected with the saidbrake-cylinder by a pipe or passage provided wit-h a non-return valvefor the purpose above specified, of a by-pass or branch passageconnecting the said brake-cylinder with the compensating cylinder, andan adjustable valve for controlling the return of the liquid through thesaid by-pass or branch passage, substantially as set forth.

5. In a gun-mounting, the combination, with a hydraulic brake-cylinderand a compensating or equalizing device consisting, essentially, of apiston or plunger Working in a cylinder connected with thebrake-cylinder by a pipe or passage provided with anon-return IOL) IIO

valve for thevpurpose above specified, of a by-pass or branch passageconnecting the said brake-cylinder and compensating device, anadjustable valve for controlling the return of the liquid through thesaid by-pass or bran eh passage, and means, substantially such as abovedescribed, whereby the said valve may be adjusted from a fixed station,whatever may be the position of the gun on the chassis or undercarriage.

'6. In a gun-mounting, the combination, with the brake-cylinders C, ofthe compensating or equalizing device consisting, essentially, of thecylinder F and piston or plunger G, one of which moves to and fro andthe other of which is secured to the under carriage or frame of the saidmounting, pipes or passages II H J, connecting the said brakecylinderswith the cylinder F, a non-return valve K in the pipe or passage J, andan adjustable valve for permitting and controlling the return of theliquid from the said cylinder F to the brake-cylinders, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

7. In a gun-mounting, the combination, with the brake-cylinders C, ofthe compensating or equalizing device consist-ing, essentially, of thecylinder F and piston orvplunger G, one of which moves to and fro andthe other of which is secured to the under carriage or frame of the saidmounting, pipes or passages H H J, connecting the said brakecylinderswith the cylinder F, a non-return valve l( in the pipe or passage J, thebypass or branch passage a around the said valve, and an adjustablevalve l) in and governing the said by-pass or branch passage,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

S. In a gun-mounting. the combination, with the brake-cylinders C, ofthe compensating or equalizing device consisting, essentially, of thecylinder F and piston or plunger G, one of which moves to and fro andthe other of which is secured to the under carriage or frame of the saidmounting, pipes or passages H H J, connecting the said brakeeylinderswith the cylinder F, a non-return valve K in the pipe or passage J, theby-pass or branch passage a around the said valve, an adjustable valve lin the said by-pass or branch passage, a pinion c, fixed on the stem ofthe valve b, a pinion d, geared with the said pinion c and arrangedbetween lugs c2 on the top carriage, a shaft e, fitted to rotate inbearings on the under carriage and extending through the said pinion (land connected therewith, so that the pinion can slide to and fro on thesaid shaft but must rotate therewith, and a lever f, for operating thesaid shaft,` all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTM'E ADOLIIIE CANET.

Wi tn esses:

RoBT. M. I'looPEn, CH. F. THtRioN.

